Plains' Turkey Bowl a time-honored tradition

For many of us, there are traditions that just can’t be ignored.

Count the Turkey Bowl among them.

While the dreaded Covid-19 situation has disrupted lives in so many ways, it was no match on this Thursday afternoon for students at Plains High School.

Far from the more familiar rendition of this Thanksgiving season classic where celebrants slosh through mud and/or snow to play football in hopes of burning a few calories before the feast, this year’s version was fun nonetheless.

Hosted by the school’s National Honor Society, the annual event was held this year in the school gymnasium. The game pitted seniors and freshmen against juniors and sophomores with a portion of the gym floor coned off to form football end zones.

The score did not matter, although the senior/freshmen team clearly scored more points.

“This is a tradition we like to keep going,” said NHS member Celsey VonHeeder. “We can have some fun and gather food for those in need at Thanksgiving.”

With spectators limited to staff and seniors due to coronavirus concerns, six players from each side squared off in a touch football contest with four, 10-minute quarters.

The event was part of the NHS community involvement program in which each scholarly member completes acts of service to the community. For this event, the group is collecting and will distribute canned foods and other goods to needy families throughout the community.

The food drive also featured a turkey raffle for a bird donated by McGowan Grocery of Plains.

Highlighting the game, which was telecast to non-senior classmates via a closed circuit broadcast in each classroom during the last class period of the day, was a non-stop, lively running commentary by seniors Duncan Chisholm, Peter Carey and Brayden Good.